A communication station, such as a base station or access point, has multiple backhaul options and distributes backhaul data between the available backhaul options. The communication station includes a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data with user equipments, multiple backhaul interface modules, and a backhaul distribution module arranged for monitoring demand for backhaul bandwidth and distributing data over the backhauls based on the demand for backhaul bandwidth. Additional modules for user data and control plane processing may be included with the user/control distinction used in distributing data over the backhauls. The backhaul options may include a preferred backhaul and an alternate backhaul. Distributing data over the backhauls may be based, for example, on applications associated with the data, financial cost, delay, robustness, computational resources, and/or additional security associated with using a particular backhaul.
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1. A communication station, comprising: a transceiver arranged for transmitting and receiving data with subscriber stations; a plurality of backhaul interface modules, each backhaul interface module being arranged for providing backhaul communications over a corresponding one of a plurality of backhaul connections; a data processing module for detecting information about applications associated with the data transmitted and received by the transceiver; and a backhaul distribution module coupled to the plurality of backhaul interface modules and arranged for monitoring demand for backhaul bandwidth and distributing data over the plurality of backhaul connections based on the demand for backhaul bandwidth and the detected information about the applications associated with the data.
A communication station (like a base station) transmits and receives data with user devices. It has multiple backhaul connections for network communication. A data processing module identifies application types (e.g., video streaming, web browsing) associated with the data. A backhaul distribution module monitors backhaul bandwidth demand and distributes data across the multiple backhaul connections based on both the bandwidth demand and the identified application type. This allows intelligent routing of data based on application needs and backhaul capacity.
2. The communication station of claim 1 , wherein the data processing module comprises: a user data plane processing module coupled to the backhaul distribution module and the transceiver and arranged for processing user data communications being received and transmitted by the communication station; and a control plane processing module coupled to the backhaul distribution module and the transceiver and arranged for processing control communications received and transmitted by the communication station, and wherein distributing data over the plurality of backhaul connections by the backhaul distribution module includes whether the data is associated with the user data plane or the control plane.
The communication station described previously includes a user data plane processing module and a control plane processing module. The user data plane module handles user-specific data, while the control plane module manages signaling and control information. The backhaul distribution module now distributes data across backhaul connections, taking into account whether the data belongs to the user data plane or the control plane. Different backhaul connections can be prioritized for user data versus control signaling.
3. The communication station of claim 1 , wherein the backhaul distribution module is further arranged for monitoring capacity of the plurality of backhaul connections, and wherein distributing data over the plurality of backhaul connections by the backhaul distribution module includes the capacity of the plurality of backhaul connections.
The communication station described earlier also monitors the capacity of each of its multiple backhaul connections. The backhaul distribution module uses this capacity information, in addition to bandwidth demand and application type, to distribute data across the backhaul connections. Data is routed to backhaul connections with sufficient available capacity to avoid congestion and optimize performance.
4. The communication station of claim 1 , wherein the detected information about the applications associated with the data comprises application classes and specific applications.
In the communication station described previously, the detected application information includes application classes (e.g., video, voice, data) and specific applications (e.g., YouTube, Skype, web browser). The system can differentiate between general types of traffic and specific applications, enabling more granular control over backhaul routing.
5. The communication station of claim 1 , wherein the demand for backhaul bandwidth is based on the detected information about the applications associated with the data.
In the communication station described previously, the demand for backhaul bandwidth is determined based on the identified application information. Different applications have different bandwidth requirements. Knowing the application type allows the system to estimate and predict the bandwidth needed for each data stream, leading to more efficient backhaul distribution.
6. The communication station of claim 1 , wherein the demand for backhaul bandwidth monitored by the backhaul distribution module is based on guaranteed bit rates associated with transmitting and receiving data with the subscriber stations.
In the communication station described previously, the monitored backhaul bandwidth demand is based on guaranteed bit rates associated with transmitting and receiving data with user devices. This guarantees a minimum level of service for users by ensuring that backhaul capacity is allocated to meet these guaranteed bit rate requirements.
7. The communication station of claim 1 , wherein the demand for backhaul bandwidth monitored by the backhaul distribution module is based on maximum bit rates associated with transmitting data to and receiving data from the subscriber stations.
In the communication station described previously, the monitored backhaul bandwidth demand is based on maximum bit rates associated with transmitting and receiving data with user devices. The system considers the peak bandwidth requirements of users when distributing data across the backhaul connections, optimizing for potential bursts of traffic.
8. The communication station of claim 1 , wherein the backhaul distribution module distributes data over the plurality of backhaul connections by: initially distributing data to a preferred one of the plurality of backhaul interface modules; determining whether the demand for backhaul bandwidth exceeds the capacity of the backhaul connection associated with the preferred one of the backhaul interface modules; and distributing data to an alternate one of the plurality of backhaul interface modules when the demand for backhaul bandwidth exceeds the capacity of the backhaul connection associated with the preferred one of the backhaul interface modules.
The communication station described previously distributes data to backhaul connections by initially using a preferred backhaul connection. If the bandwidth demand exceeds the capacity of this preferred connection, the system then distributes data to an alternate backhaul connection. This prioritizes the preferred connection while providing overflow capacity through the alternate connection.
9. The communication station of claim 8 , wherein the backhaul distribution module further distributes data over the plurality of backhaul connections by: after distributing data to the alternate one of the plurality of backhaul interface modules, determining whether spare backhaul bandwidth exists on the backhaul connection associated with the preferred one of the backhaul interface modules; and redistributing data from the alternate one of the plurality of backhaul interface modules to the preferred one of the backhaul interface modules when spare backhaul bandwidth exists on the backhaul connection associated with the preferred one of the backhaul interface modules.
Continuing from the previous description, after distributing data to the alternate backhaul connection, the communication station checks if spare bandwidth becomes available on the preferred backhaul connection. If so, the system redistributes data from the alternate backhaul connection back to the preferred connection. This dynamically shifts traffic back to the preferred connection when capacity allows.
10. A method for use with a communication station operable to communicate with user equipments via a transceiver and communicate with a network over a plurality of backhaul connections, the method comprising: monitoring demand for backhaul bandwidth; distributing backhaul data to a preferred one of the plurality of backhaul connections; detecting information about applications associated with the backhaul data; determining whether the demand for backhaul bandwidth exceeds the capacity of the preferred one of the plurality of backhaul connections backhaul; and distributing at least some of the backhaul data to an alternate one of the plurality of backhaul connections when the demand for backhaul bandwidth exceeds the capacity of the preferred one of the plurality of backhaul connections, the backhaul data distributed to an alternate one of the plurality of backhaul connections being selected utilizing the detected information about the applications associated with the backhaul data.
A method for a communication station with multiple backhaul connections involves monitoring backhaul bandwidth demand and initially distributing data to a preferred backhaul connection. The method detects application information associated with the data and determines if the bandwidth demand exceeds the preferred connection's capacity. If so, data is distributed to an alternate connection, with data selection for the alternate link being informed by the detected application information to optimize routing decisions.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: after distributing at least some of the backhaul data to the alternate one of the plurality of backhaul connections, determining whether spare backhaul bandwidth exists on the preferred one of the plurality of backhaul connections; and redistributing at least some of the backhaul data from the alternate one of the plurality of backhaul connections to the preferred one of the plurality of backhaul connections when spare backhaul bandwidth exists on the preferred one of the plurality of backhaul connections.
The method described previously includes determining whether spare bandwidth exists on the preferred backhaul connection after distributing data to an alternate connection. If spare bandwidth is available, data is redistributed from the alternate connection back to the preferred connection, shifting traffic back to the preferred connection when possible.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the detected information about the applications associated with the backhaul data comprises application classes and specific applications.
In the method described previously, the application information includes application classes (e.g., video, voice, data) and specific applications (e.g., YouTube, Skype, web browser), enabling finer-grained control over backhaul routing decisions.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least some of the backhaul data distributed to the alternate one of the plurality of backhaul connections is selected to minimize a cost function associated with communications on the plurality of backhaul connections.
In the method described previously, data is distributed to the alternate backhaul connection to minimize a cost function related to backhaul communications. This cost function is used to choose the best backhaul connection based on various factors.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cost function is based at least in part on attributes of the backhaul connections selected from the group consisting of financial costs, communication delays, communication robustness, and computational resources of the communication station associated with communicating data over the backhaul connections.
The cost function described previously is based on factors like financial costs, communication delays, communication robustness, and computational resource usage when communicating over the different backhaul connections. The best backhaul connection is chosen to minimize these costs.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining whether the demand for backhaul bandwidth exceeds the capacity of the backhaul connection associated with the preferred one of the plurality of backhaul connections comprises determining whether the demand for backhaul bandwidth exceeds the capacity of the preferred one of the plurality of backhaul connections by a threshold amount and for a threshold time.
The determination of whether bandwidth demand exceeds the preferred connection's capacity includes checking if the demand exceeds the capacity by a specific threshold amount and for a specified duration. This prevents unnecessary switching to the alternate connection due to brief bandwidth spikes.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein distributing at least some of the backhaul data to the alternate one of the plurality of backhaul connections comprises distributing backhaul data associated with a bearer.
Distributing data to the alternate backhaul connection involves distributing data associated with a bearer, which is a specific data flow with defined quality of service requirements. The system can switch entire bearers to the alternate connection.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein distributing at least some of the backhaul data to the alternate one of the plurality of backhaul connections comprises distributing backhaul data associated with one of the user equipments.
Distributing data to the alternate backhaul connection involves distributing data associated with a specific user device. This allows the system to move all traffic for a user device to the alternate connection.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein monitoring demand for backhaul bandwidth comprises utilizing guaranteed bit rates associated with communicating with the user equipments.
Monitoring backhaul bandwidth demand uses guaranteed bit rates for communicating with the user devices. This prioritizes meeting the guaranteed bandwidth requirements for each user.
19. The method of claim 10 , wherein monitoring demand for backhaul bandwidth comprises utilizing maximum bit rates associated with communicating with the user equipments.
Monitoring backhaul bandwidth demand uses maximum bit rates for communicating with user devices. This takes into account the potential peak bandwidth needs of each user.
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February 6, 2012
August 13, 2013
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